Your Students Will Make Real Data-Driven Decisions.You'll Have the Evidence to Prove It.
The MIS/BIS simulation where students make data-backed decisions, compete in teams, and give you assessment evidence automatically.
Intro MIS/BIS · IS2020 + AACSB alignment · Live onboarding & same-day support
Get Started in 3 Simple Steps
From signup to your first simulation in under 5 minutes
Sign Up Free
Create your instructor account in 60 seconds. No credit card, no commitment. Explore the full platform immediately.
Customize Your Course
Choose from pre-built templates or customize game length, datasets, and learning objectives to match your syllabus.
Invite Students
Share your course code or LMS integration link. Students register, pay a minimal fee, and you're teaching data analytics.
Why Professors Adopt MISSimulation
Less grading, clearer evidence, and a clean fit for intro MIS/BIS. See how instructors typically save 9–13 hours per semester below.
Research-Backed
Published in the Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education. Supports direct measures of student learning alongside your own rubric.
Quick Course Setup
Explore a free sample section in minutes. Pre-built templates aligned to IS2020 competencies. Works alongside Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or standalone.
Free for Instructors
No setup fees, no licensing costs. Department PO and NET30 invoicing available. Students pay only $28.99 USD for semester access.
Full UI in 8 languages, EN, FR, ES, RU, PT, AR (RTL), ZH, HI. Lock section language or let students choose.
Join 13,000+ Students at Leading Universities Using MISsimulation
Serving Business Information Systems professors since 2016
...and many more leading institutions worldwide
Why Students Actually Complete This Assignment
Students stay engaged because each turn has visible stakes, team accountability, and immediate feedback on whether their analysis led to better outcomes.
Real Stakes, Real Investment
When students compete against classmates for market share, every decision matters. Wins and losses mean something, creating motivation you can't manufacture with textbook problems.
Learn by Applying
Research shows simulation-based learning improves knowledge retention. Students apply classroom concepts, experiment safely, and build confidence through hands-on practice.
Deadlines That Matter
Turn-based structure with real deadlines means students can't procrastinate because their competitors are acting. This creates natural pacing throughout the semester.
"I got more out of this class than out of any other online class I've ever taken"
Are you a student?
Learn what to expect and join your class
Questions from Instructors Like You
Quick answers to help you decide if MISSimulation is right for your course
Can I try it myself before committing to my class?
Absolutely. Preview the instructor overview at /instructor-overview to see the student and instructor workflow before committing. Or, your free instructor account gives you full live access - all screens, all data, all AI feedback - with no credit card required.
How much class time does this require?
As much or as little as you choose. Many instructors run a 15–20 minute debrief discussion after each turn - students arrive with their results and the conversation writes itself. Others let the simulation run entirely asynchronously with no required class time. It's fully up to you.
What if students have technical issues?
We've got your back. Students get direct support access, and instructors have a dedicated support channel with 24-hour response time. Plus, there's a private instructor community to share best practices.
Do students need special software?
No special software required. The simulation exports standard CSV files that work with Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice, or any spreadsheet tool your class already uses. Students work in whatever environment they're most comfortable with.
Can I customize the difficulty level?
Fully adjustable. Control game length (4-13 turns), dataset complexity, required analysis depth, and grading rubrics. Perfect for both undergraduate and graduate courses.
What support resources do I get?
Everything you need: Complete teaching resources including assignment templates, grading rubrics, sample syllabi, video tutorials, and access to our instructor community forum.
Why does a campaign simulation work in a business or MIS course?
Because everyone already understands the stakes. The campaign format is one of the most effective teaching wrappers for MIS concepts precisely because students arrive with instant intuition about how it works - budgets, competition, targeting, and measurable outcomes are self-evident. That familiarity lets the course focus entirely on the analytical skills. The voter segments are customer segments. The districts are market regions. The budget is a resource-allocation problem. The case studies (Obama 2012, Target) show how these same techniques operate at scale in real organizations. Misland is a fictional island with fictional political parties - no real-world political content. Across 13,000+ student uses, we have not received documented reports of classroom friction attributable to this framing.
Is the platform FERPA and GDPR compliant?
Yes, and we can provide documentation. Student data is never sold and is not used to train AI models. We are FERPA-aware: student performance records are accessible only to the enrolled instructor and the student. For GDPR: data is processed under our Privacy Policy with appropriate international transfer safeguards. For institutions that require a formal Data Processing Agreement (DPA) or Privacy Addendum before approving third-party tools, email us at [email protected] can provide one. See our full Privacy Policy. Privacy Policy.
How does grading work in a competitive format?
Grading is rubric-based, not zero-sum. A team's grade is determined by the quality of their analysis, the rigor of their decision rationale, and their use of data-not by whether they won the simulation. The included grading rubrics assess data interpretation, strategic reasoning, and budget justification independently of competitive outcome. One team winning does not reduce another team's grade. You can also weight participation, improvement over turns, and individual contribution scores however fits your course.
What does "LMS-ready" actually mean?
Embed link + grade import — not full LTI passback. Students open the simulation via an embeddable link or course code you share in Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, or Moodle—not a full LTI grade passback. The Instructor Kit includes setup guides for each LMS. After each turn, export a grade CSV and import it into your gradebook. Automatic gradebook sync is on our roadmap. No IT admin ticket required to get started.
What does the AI feedback actually say?
Substantive, rubric-anchored analysis. The AI scores each structured Action Plan against simulation evidence: targeting groups or imported Lab profiles, linked datasets, strategic role, forecasts, Analysis Lab depth, purchases, execution, and competitive context, not a standalone essay. Strong feedback cites verified numbers from the student's data and Lab trail. Weak feedback flags missing links, shallow Lab activity, or execution that contradicts the plan. You retain full oversight via exports and analytics; score overrides require justification.
How do you prevent free riders on teams?
Built-in accountability. The system tracks individual student activity: login frequency, actions created, time spent, and contribution rate. You'll see automatic alerts for inactive students or potential free riders before it's too late to intervene.
Do students get to practice before the graded simulation?
Yes, students run a complete practice simulation before their graded run. Their first real decision is informed, not experimental. You see their practice performance in the instructor dashboard and can identify struggling students before the grade matters.
How does AI scoring adapt to different course levels?
Three scoring modes match your course level: Forgiving mode for introductory and freshman courses (generous partial credit, positive framing), Moderate mode for standard undergraduate courses (balanced assessment), and Strict mode for advanced or graduate courses (rigorous evaluation against best practices). Set it once per section.
What is the refund policy for students?
If a student purchases an access code but hasn't activated their account yet, we're happy to process a refund-just contact support. Once the account is activated, access is non-refundable.
Still have questions?
Contact Our Team
From the classroom
The point is the why: students leave understanding why the data matters and how it supports a decision under competition and incomplete information. Not lab steps they can finish without knowing why. Also free-riders, grading load, and one published student comment from JSDSE (2022).
Traditional labs teach the how: open the file, run the pivot, enter the transaction. Students still leave unable to say why that number should change a decision. Here they must use the data they have, justify the call, and see competitors respond. They leave knowing the why of data-driven decision making.
Free-riders and vague strategy writeups used to hide whether anyone understood the data. Participation and evidence-linked scoring show who can explain the why, not only who submitted a file. Class time goes to decisions and competitive read; students who engage leave ready to defend choices with data in real roles.
Great blend of interesting online tools, group work, lectures and hands-on learning
Evidence-Based Educational Design
Longitudinal study of 1,200+ students shows significant improvements in data literacy and student engagement.
Read the Full Peer-Reviewed Study →Learn More on the Blog
Teaching tips for MIS, business information systems, and business computing courses, analytics pedagogy, data literacy, case studies, and experiential learning from instructors using MISSimulation.